Mission: San Fernando Rey
Baptismal No. 00720
Spanish Name: Rafaela
Native Name: [blank]
Baptism Date: December 11, 1802*
Type of Baptism: + (normal)
Origin: [unlisted]
Ethnicity: India
Sex: F
Baptism Place: Yglesia de esta Mision (mission church)
Age: 45 years
Level: a (adult)
BROTHER
Name: Amando
Mission: San Fernando Rey
Baptismal No. 00706
GODFATHER
Name: Jose Maria Verdugo**
OTHER
Officiant: Francisco Xavier Uria
Recorder: Francisco Xavier Uria
DEATH
Mission: San Fernando Rey
Death No.: 01077
Burial Date.: 8-28-1814
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* Many new arrivals from Chaguayabit village were baptized at the mission on this day including the capitan (chief), as well as the capitan from Piiru.
** José María Verdugo (1751-1831) was a corporal in the Spanish army from Baja California
who was assigned to the Presidio of San Diego and later to the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.
In 1874 he received from Gov. Pedro Fages the 36,402-acre Rancho San Rafael (aka La Zanja).
It was one of the 25 original Spanish land grants; most land grants, like the Rancho San Francisco, were
Mexican land grants that came later. Verdugo's land stretched from the Mission San Fernando
on the west to present-day Pasadena on the east and included the modern cities/communities
of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Montrose, Verdugo City, Atwater Village, Cypress Park,
Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Highland Park and Mount Washington. In 1779 he married María de la Encarnación
López, who gave him 11 children. In 1798 he retired from the military
to become a rancher. In late 1802-early 1803, when many Indians were brought from Chaguayabit
village (Castaic Junction) and Piru to the Mission San Fernando
to be baptized, Verdugo — then an inválido (pensioner) del Real Presidio de San Diego
— is on record as the godfather of most of them. It was customary for Spanish military men and/or their wives
to serve in this capacity. It is not indicative of a familial relationship.